Green Jobs

On the China-Solar Trade Dispute

  If you’re in the solar industry, or care much about it, I’m sure you’ve heard of the “solar trade war”/solar industry trade dispute going on right now. Basically, a handful of solar manufacturing companies from the U.S. and Germany (led by SolarWorld) contend that china is dumping its solar goods … [continued]

China’s Solar PV Players Ramp Up Overseas Investments

China’s solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers aren’t waiting around for US decisions on China improperly subsidizing the industry and claims that Chinese manufacturers are dumping product in the US; they’re shifting investments overseas. China’s TFG Radiant Group announced it’s increasing its equity stake in Colorado flexible thin-film solar PV manufacturer Ascent Solar, while LDK Solar announced its increasing its stake and launching a public takeover offer for all the shares of German silicon solar PV producer Sunways AG.

US Wind Tower Group Files Dumping Complaint Against Chinese, Vietnamese Manufacturers

Trade frictions between China and the US continue to intensify as a group of four US wind tower manufacturers filed a complaint with the US Commerce Dept. and International Trade Commission that calls on them to investigate the group’s claim that their Chinese competitors, operating in both China and Vietnam, are benefiting from a raft of improper government subsidies that enable them to engage in predatory pricing here in the US.

German Solar Power Production Surges 60%; Renewables 20% of Total Electricity Supply

Germany’s solar power output surged 60% in 2011 and renewable energy overall rose to account for just shy of 20% of national electricity production. While German solar power industry participants are facing stiff challenges – substantial solar feed-in tariff cuts will be coming into effect in 2012 and a global glut of solar PV modules is putting serious pressure on margins – other factors support a fundamentally sound outlook for the sector in 2012 and beyond.

Imperial Valley’s Unique Combination of Solar and Geothermal Resources Make it a Hotbed of Renewable…

California’s Imperial Valley is rich in solar and geothermal energy resources, but its drive to build itself into a clean, renewable energy hub is creating some controversy among the local community, which in large part has been built around agriculture. County commissioners on Tuesday approved LS Power’s application to build the Centinela 275-MW solar photovoltaic energy array on private farmland, bringing the debate, and tensions, to the fore.